Human Resources

Vision

"Central Washington University will be a model learning community of access and opportunity."

Mission

"To build a community of access and opportunity, Central Washington University fosters high impact practices, sustainability, and authentic community partnerships that are grounded in meaningful relationships."

Unifying Value: Student Success

Core Values:

• Engagement
• Belonging
• Stewardship

Vision and Mission - Strategic Plan website

The Wildcat Way is a university-wide commitment to service excellence tailored specifically for CWU and embraced, communicated and supported at all levels and across all departments and programs.

The Wildcat Way is built around the university's core values that embrace inclusivity, diversity, and treating all people with dignity and respect. The program institutionalizes these values through our active commitment to five principles:

• Be Welcoming
• Be Inclusive
• Be Knowledgeable
• Be Responsive
• Be Proud

Wildcat Way Website

We are proud to be Wildcats for many reasons! Take the time to:

• wear or display your CWU pin found in your Welcome packet.
• create a CWU branded e-mail signature block - Directions
• check out why CWU ranks #13 of the top 20 best college towns in the U.S. in 2025.
• share about your new job on social media - Instructor will e-mail you two different options.

CWU is composed of six university centers in addition to our main residential campus in Ellensburg:

• CWU-Lynnwood
• CWU-Des Moines
• CWU-Pierce County
• CWU-Yakima
• CWU-Moses Lake
• CWU-Wenatchee

We also have an instructional site located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Military Base. A person doesn't need to live in Ellensburg to get a degree from CWU!

CWU Campus Locations

For official data snapshots of key student and employee metrics, visit the CWU Dashboards website.

Being a public higher education institution, CWU has many policies and procedures that guide our daily interactions and the way we do business. Understanding the policies and procedures that pertain to you in your position is also key to your success at CWU. See links below for specific policies.

• Civil Service (non-represented), Temporary/Hourly, Nonpermanent: CWU policies and Washington Administrative Codes (WAC 357)
• Civil Service (Represented): Collective Bargaining Agreement
  • Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE)
  • Public School Employees of Washington (PSE)
  • Teamsters
• Exempt Staff: Exempt Employees' Code (Section 305)
• Faculty: Collective Bargaining Agreement (UFC)
• Student Employees: Student Conduct Code (WAC 106-125)

In addition to the key policies that pertain to your specific employee classification, you have a responsibility to familiarize yourself with other University policies and procedures as they relate to your employment.

• (CWU 701-04) Alcohol and Other Drugs
• (CWU 701-06) Conflict of Interest in Relationships
• (CWU 701-08) Ethical Conduct Standards

In addition, familiarize yourself with the (CWU 301-26) Conflict of Interest Standards Policy - All Employees.

As a general reference, you can access (2-30) Employee Policies as well.

Watch for an e-mail regarding the Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure:

• The disclosure will be sent to your CWU Outlook e-mail account from Compliance@cwu.edu within 7 days of starting work.
• Promptly answer the questions in the COI disclosure.

CWU is a Drug Free Workplace, a workplace where "the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited."

There may be times when you observe or become aware of potential misconduct that impacts members of our community. As a permanent staff or faculty member of CWU, you are designated as a Responsible Employee (unless you are in a role specifically designated as a confidential resource).

Employee Reporting Responsibilities

As a responsible employee:

• if an instance of sexual misconduct is brought to your attention, you must inform your chair if you are in an academic department
• as well as the Title IX Coordinator directly – crc@cwu.edu, x2050
• or through the Concern and Support Form link within MyCWU.
  • MyCWU >> Other Links pagelet >> Concern and Support Form

That way the university can take appropriate action to end the misconduct or hostile environment.

For more information about the types of incidents you are required to report and the reporting expectations, see the bulleted items below and review (CWU 701-09) Reporting Concern and Employee Reporting Responsibilities.

Types of incidents you are required to report:

• Student Hazing
• Sexual Harassment / Misconduct, including:
  • dating/domestic violence
  • sexual assault
  • stalking

Reporting Expectations:

• Promptly Report
• Respect Privacy
• Role Transparency
• DO NOT INVESTIGATE

Other incidents that can be reported include any concerns regarding other CWU employees including potential violations of employee policies or expectations.

PATH provides confidential advocacy for students who have experienced sexual harassment, stalking, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, or sexual assault. PATH can also provide support to CWU students who are friends, partners, and family members of someone who has experienced violence.

• For more information on getting students connected with PATH, visit the PATH website.

CWU employees are required to complete training courses not only for our own safety but for the well-being of the CWU university community as a whole. Recognizing that employees have different learning styles, CWU provides a variety of modes of instruction.

Keep in mind that differences exist in the required training for supervisors vs. non-supervisors.

• See the Required Training web page for details about required training including additional training requirements for supervisors.

To view all required training courses in MyCWU, go to the |Learning| tab and enter the term required into the search box.

Part of being informed at CWU is keeping abreast of development opportunities available to you.

• Central Learning Academy - Professional Development Opportunities

CLA Online

The Central Learning Academy team in Human Resources offers 24x7 access to an eLearning library with thousands of online courses, full-text books, and videos, to name a few.

• CLA Online

Education Benefits

CWU offers a variety of education benefits as well as a tuition waiver program to help faculty, staff, their spouses and children, among others, achieve their education goals.

• Benefits for staff ($15 total, up to 8 credit hours/quarter)
  • (CWU 301-02) Education Benefits for CWU Staff
  • Employee Tuition Exemption Request
• Benefits for Dependents (50% in-state tuition waiver)
  • (CWU 301-03) Education Benefits for CWU Staff Dependents & Retired Staff
  • Dependent Tuition Waiver

• Lock Shop: for building/department key
  • must schedule an appointment
  • (509) 963-2917
• Connection Card: your CWU ID card
  
  • Follow the directions under Online Access & Downloading the GET Mobile App on the Connection Card website to upload your ID photo.
  • When you receive an email indicating your connection card is ready for pick up, stop by the Connection Card office located in the Student Union & Recreation Center (SURC) Info Center to pick up your card
• Brooks Library: check out items with your Connection Card; download the Flipster app to read current magazines on your smartphone
• Parking Services: for parking permits
  • MyCWU >> Applications pagelet >> MyParking
• Workplace Accommodations website: for faculty & staff accommodations
  • (509) 963-1202 or e-mail hr@cwu.edu

Your supervisor, ambassador, and department administrative support staff are excellent sources of information for you as you acclimate to your new role at CWU. In addition, you can rely on the following for more specific information:

• Service Desk - technology-related services or issues
  • located on 1st floor in Samuelson
  • (509) 963-2001
  • e-mail cwu.servicedesk@cwu.edu
  • New Employee Technology Guide
• Central Learning Academy - learning or professional development questions or issues
  • Central Learning Academy
  • e-mail cla@cwu.edu
• Human Resources - general HR questions, questions about payroll or benefits
  
  • located on 1st floor in Mitchell Hall
  • Human Resources
  • (509) 963-1202
  • e-mail hr@cwu.edu
  • e-mail payroll@cwu.edu
  • for Benefits assistance, e-mail Melany.Peterson@cwu.edu
• Employee Assistance Program (First Choice Health)
  • (800) 777-4114
  • https://www.fchn.com/Members/EAP and enter username: cwu
• Parking
  • (509) 963-2667
• Faculty Relations - assistance with faculty labor relations, faculty performance evaluations, Faculty180, and more
  • Faculty Relations website
  • Charlene Andrews, Faculty Relations Coordinator
    • (509) 963-1271
    • e-mail charlene.andrews@cwu.edu
• Wildcat Shop - ordering textbooks and required course material, help with inclusive access
  • located in the SURC, https://wildcatshop.net/topic/faculty-resources
  • (509) 963-1311
  • e-mail textbooks@cwu.edu
• MyCWU >> University Directory (or Outlook Address Book) - find an employee

Human Resources serves as business and strategic partners. We provide access to and administer benefits, payroll and other programs that cover the entire life span of your employment. We provide HR- and payroll-related guidance and support, when needed, to managers and employees. As new employees, you will find most often that supervisors can answer employee questions and provide direction. The HR website provides valuable resources. If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to call us!

• located on 1st floor in Mitchell Hall
• (509) 963-1202 or e-mail hr@cwu.edu or payroll@cwu.edu
• HR

For CWU staff employees, vacation and sick leave begin to accrue immediately upon employment and are available for use dependent on your hire date (review examples below).

• Leave and Holidays

Examples of when leave becomes available based on your hire date:

• Begin work on March 1...leave available for use April 1
• Begin work on March 16...leave available for use May 1

You will find more information about staff employee leave in your specific Policy/Bargaining Agreement.

For ease of explanation, the reader understands that the four sections below regarding leave pertain only to employees who are entitled to that respective kind of leave.

Vacation Leave

Civil service and exempt employees accrue vacation leave each month:

• Exempt employees: accrue 16.67 hours per month, prorated by FTE
• Civil Service employees: begin accruing 9.33 hours per month, which increases with years of service, until the maximum of 16.67 hours is reached after 25 years of service; prorated by FTE

View your Vacation Leave accrual through MyCWU:

• MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Employee Leave Summary pagelet.

Sick Leave

Civil service and exempt employees accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month, prorated by FTE. There is no limit to the number of sick leave hours a person can accrue. In addition, there may be times when an employee is eligible for other types of medical leave including the following:

• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML)

Bereavement Leave

Bereavement leave is paid leave due to the death of a family or household member.

Holidays

Holidays

All Washington State employees, including those at CWU, receive eleven paid holidays:

1. The first day of January (New Year's Day)
2. The third Monday of January (Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday)
3. The third Monday of February (President's Day)
4. The last Monday in May (Memorial Day)
5. The nineteenth of June (Juneteenth)
6. The fourth day of July (Independence Day)
7. The first Monday in September (Labor Day)
8. The eleventh day of November (Veterans Day)
9. The fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day)
10. The Friday immediately following the fourth Thursday in November (Native American Heritage Day)
11. The twenty-fifth day of December (Christmas Day)

You must be in pay status on the workday before the holiday occurs to receive payment for the holiday.

* Cyclic employees should refer to your specific policy or bargaining agreement for more information about this.

* Faculty should refer to the Academic Calendar on the Registrar's website for additional days class is not in session.

All civil service and most exempt employees also receive paid Personal Days:

• Exempt and non-represented Civil Service employees: three Personal Holidays that must be used between January 1st and December 31st - do not carry over to the next calendar year. Temporary exempt employees are eligible based on their employment pattern.
• Represented Civil Service employees:

WFSE 

Personal Holidays

• 2 days
• use January 1 thru December 31
• do not carry over to next calendar year

Union Personal Leave Days

• 3 days
• use July 1 thru June 30 of following year
• do not carry over to next fiscal year

May use after continuously employed by the State of Washington in a classified position for more than 4 months.

PSE  

Personal Holidays

• 3 days
• use January 1 thru December 31
• do not carry over to next calendar year

Union Personal Leave Days

• 2 days
• use July 1 thru June 30 of following year
• do not carry over to next fiscal year

May use upon hire.

Teamsters 

Personal Holidays

• 1 day
• use January 1 thru December 31
• do not carry over to next calendar year

Union Personal Leave Days

• 2 days
• use July 1 thru June 30 of following year
• do not carry over to next fiscal year

May use after continuously employed by the State of Washington in a classified position for more than 4 months.

Time & Attendance is the name CWU gives to our system for reporting time worked and absences (applies to civil service and overtime-eligible exempt employees only).

Time & Attendance can be found in MyCWU:

• MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Report Time folder

All civil service employees and overtime-eligible exempt employees must report time worked as well as absences; exempt employees who are not eligible for overtime need only report absences.

There are two pay periods per month:

• 1st - 15th
• 16th - end day of the month

All hours worked and/or absences must be reported in MyCWU by the end of your shift on your last scheduled working day of the pay period.

For questions about Time & Attendance, contact Payroll Services at (509) 963-1202 or e-mail payroll@cwu.edu.

Pay Day

CWU employees are paid twice a month:

• 1st - 15th pay period: get paid for these hours on the 25th of the same month or, if the date falls on the weekend, get paid on the closest business day
• 16th - end day of the month pay period: get paid for these hours on the 10th of the following month or, if the date falls on the weekend, get paid on the closest business day

See the CWU Payroll Schedule for exact dates.

All new CWU employees will pick up your first one or two paychecks in the Cashier's Office located in Barge 105. You must pick up each paycheck before the next pay day or it will be mailed to your Home Address listed in MyCWU:

• MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Personal folder >> Personal Details >> Contact Details - to update Home address

Direct Deposit

We highly recommend all CWU employees set up Direct Deposit within your first couple of days of work to allow for electronic deposit of your paycheck directly into your bank account. Set up Direct Deposit through MyCWU:

• MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Payroll >> Direct Deposit

If you have worked on campus in the past, please check your bank information in MyCWU to make sure it is up-to-date.

If you do not set up Direct Deposit:

• visit with a Payroll staff member in Human Resources (1st floor, Mitchell Hall) to complete a U.S. Bank Focus Prepaid Visa Debit Card form (may include fees).
• subsequent paychecks beyond the first two will be mailed to your Home address listed in MyCWU (no longer available for pickup).

For questions about Direct Deposit, receiving a Prepaid Visa card, or about your paycheck, contact Payroll Services at (509) 963-1202 or e-mail payroll@cwu.edu.

W-4 Tax Information

All CWU employees also need to set up W-4 Tax Information.

• Do this through MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Payroll >> W-4 Tax Information.
• Keep this updated.
• Submit a new form if you have changes that affect the number of allowances you claim (i.e. marriage, new baby, change in dependents, divorce, death, etc.)

W-2 Electronic Consent

This provides employees an option to go paperless.

• Do this through MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Payroll >> W-2/W-2c Consent.

Salary spread is available to faculty only.

• See Payroll website for salary spread information.